UN Secretary-General Ban Calls on Member States to Push for AIDS-Free World

"Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [on Monday] called on Member States to press ahead with efforts to realize the vision of a world free of AIDS, as the United Nations General Assembly met to consider progress in the global struggle against the epidemic," the UN News Centre reports. "The HIV response can help to build stronger, integrated health care systems that respond to broad needs across society. ... As the world shapes a post-2015 development agenda, we can draw important lessons from the global AIDS response. We can take inspiration from the activists, health workers, fundraisers, diplomats and ministers -- the General Assembly and all of you," he said, according to the news service (6/10).

A UNAIDS press release notes Ban released a report (.pdf) to the General Assembly, titled "Accelerating the AIDS response: achieving the targets of the 2011 Political Declaration," which "takes stock of progress made in implementing the targets set out in the 2011 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS" and "provides an update on developments in the AIDS response, recommends key actions to accelerate progress and urges renewed commitment to achieve the agreed targets and commitments" (6/10). In his speech, Ban called for more funding, expanded treatment, and an end to "widespread stigma, discrimination, gender-based violence and punitive laws against people living with HIV -- as well as those at high risk of infection," the UN News Centre notes (6/10).

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